Making Social Activities with Assistance Dogs "Normal"
The Eyemate Association, a public interest incorporated foundation that trained Japan's first domestic guide dog "Champy," cooperated in the filming of educational and promotional videos about assistance dogs produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. These videos, released on April 27th on Tokyo's official channel "Tokyo Douga," aim to create a society where people with disabilities can participate in social activities with assistance dogs as a matter of course.
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The Eyemate Association (Representative Director: Takao Shioya, https://www.eyemate.org/), which trained "Champy," Japan's first domestically bred guide dog, cooperated in the filming of educational and promotional videos "Do you know assistance dogs? (for elementary and junior high school students, for public awareness)" and "Do you know about accepting assistance dogs? (for businesses, for public awareness)" which were released on April 27th on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's official channel "Tokyo Douga" (https://tokyodouga.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/).
These videos were newly produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with the aim of creating a society where people with disabilities can live "normally." There are three types of educational videos: for elementary school students (approx. 5 minutes), for junior high and high school students (approx. 8 minutes), and for businesses (approx. 9 minutes). For promotional videos, 15-second and 30-second versions are available. All of them are available on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's official channel "Tokyo Douga" (https://tokyodouga.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/) and can be viewed not only by residents of Tokyo but also from anywhere in Japan, so please take a look.
In addition, a PDF version of the pamphlet is also available on the metropolitan government's website. Please also refer to this. (※The educational videos and pamphlets for businesses are also available in English, Chinese, and Korean versions.)
■ Educational Videos
For elementary school students: Do you know assistance dogs? (for elementary school students, for public awareness)
For junior high and high school students: Do you know assistance dogs? (for junior high and high school students, for public awareness)
For businesses: Do you know about accepting assistance dogs? (for businesses, for public awareness)
■ Cover of the Educational Pamphlet
For elementary school students: Do you know assistance dogs? ~Supporting people with physical disabilities~
For junior high and high school students: Do you know assistance dogs? ~Supporting people with physical disabilities~
For businesses: Acceptance of assistance dogs is mandatory
The educational pamphlet can also be downloaded from this URL:
https://www.fukushi.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shougai/nichijo/hojo_dog/gaiyou
■ "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities" and the philosophy of acceptance
The "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities" is a law aimed at supporting people with disabilities to participate in social activities with assistance dogs. While obligating users to manage the health, hygiene, and appropriate behavior of assistance dogs, it also mandates the acceptance of assistance dogs in all facilities so that their companions can participate independently in social activities.
In the video, Takao Shioya, Representative Director of the Eyemate Association, conveyed his thoughts on accepting guide dogs, such as "refusing people who participate in society using assistance dogs is a human rights issue" and "fulfilling mutual obligations, both the obligation of the accepting side and the management obligation of the user side."
Also, active Eyemate pairs appeared in the video. They spoke based on their own experiences about the spread of natural acceptance in various facilities such as hospitals and taxis.
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know assistance dogs?" for elementary school students
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Assistance dogs are well-trained and can go to various places with their owners
- Interview: People with visual impairments and guide dogs, etc.
- How to interact with assistance dogs
- Differences from pets
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know assistance dogs?" for junior high and high school students
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Do you know the "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities"?
- Interview: Takao Shioya, Representative Director, Eyemate Association
- Interview: Sunja Park, Representative Director, Japan Service Dog Association
- Scenes of accompaniment in various places
- Interview: People with visual impairments and guide dogs, etc.
- How to interact with assistance dogs
- Differences from pets
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know about accepting assistance dogs?" for businesses
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Do you know the "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities"?
- Interview: Takao Shioya, Representative Director, Eyemate Association
- Interview: Sunja Park, Representative Director, Japan Service Dog Association
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in public transportation
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in restaurants
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in commercial facilities
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in medical institutions
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in accommodation facilities
- Assistance dogs are not pets
- Differences from pets
- How to interact with assistance dogs
■ Selected scenes from the educational video (excerpt)
(※From "Do you know assistance dogs? (for junior high and high school students, for public awareness)")
〇 Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
These videos were newly produced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with the aim of creating a society where people with disabilities can live "normally." There are three types of educational videos: for elementary school students (approx. 5 minutes), for junior high and high school students (approx. 8 minutes), and for businesses (approx. 9 minutes). For promotional videos, 15-second and 30-second versions are available. All of them are available on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's official channel "Tokyo Douga" (https://tokyodouga.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/) and can be viewed not only by residents of Tokyo but also from anywhere in Japan, so please take a look.
In addition, a PDF version of the pamphlet is also available on the metropolitan government's website. Please also refer to this. (※The educational videos and pamphlets for businesses are also available in English, Chinese, and Korean versions.)
■ Educational Videos
For elementary school students: Do you know assistance dogs? (for elementary school students, for public awareness)
For junior high and high school students: Do you know assistance dogs? (for junior high and high school students, for public awareness)
For businesses: Do you know about accepting assistance dogs? (for businesses, for public awareness)
■ Cover of the Educational Pamphlet
For elementary school students: Do you know assistance dogs? ~Supporting people with physical disabilities~
For junior high and high school students: Do you know assistance dogs? ~Supporting people with physical disabilities~
For businesses: Acceptance of assistance dogs is mandatory
The educational pamphlet can also be downloaded from this URL:
https://www.fukushi.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/shougai/nichijo/hojo_dog/gaiyou
■ "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities" and the philosophy of acceptance
The "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities" is a law aimed at supporting people with disabilities to participate in social activities with assistance dogs. While obligating users to manage the health, hygiene, and appropriate behavior of assistance dogs, it also mandates the acceptance of assistance dogs in all facilities so that their companions can participate independently in social activities.
In the video, Takao Shioya, Representative Director of the Eyemate Association, conveyed his thoughts on accepting guide dogs, such as "refusing people who participate in society using assistance dogs is a human rights issue" and "fulfilling mutual obligations, both the obligation of the accepting side and the management obligation of the user side."
Also, active Eyemate pairs appeared in the video. They spoke based on their own experiences about the spread of natural acceptance in various facilities such as hospitals and taxis.
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know assistance dogs?" for elementary school students
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Assistance dogs are well-trained and can go to various places with their owners
- Interview: People with visual impairments and guide dogs, etc.
- How to interact with assistance dogs
- Differences from pets
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know assistance dogs?" for junior high and high school students
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Do you know the "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities"?
- Interview: Takao Shioya, Representative Director, Eyemate Association
- Interview: Sunja Park, Representative Director, Japan Service Dog Association
- Scenes of accompaniment in various places
- Interview: People with visual impairments and guide dogs, etc.
- How to interact with assistance dogs
- Differences from pets
■ Main structure of the educational video "Do you know about accepting assistance dogs?" for businesses
- Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
- Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs
- Do you know the "Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Physical Disabilities"?
- Interview: Takao Shioya, Representative Director, Eyemate Association
- Interview: Sunja Park, Representative Director, Japan Service Dog Association
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in public transportation
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in restaurants
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in commercial facilities
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in medical institutions
- Acceptance of assistance dogs in accommodation facilities
- Assistance dogs are not pets
- Differences from pets
- How to interact with assistance dogs
■ Selected scenes from the educational video (excerpt)
(※From "Do you know assistance dogs? (for junior high and high school students, for public awareness)")
〇 Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?
Do you know assistance dogs for persons with physical disabilities?